King Minos of Crete is a powerful ruler in Greek mythology, remembered as a mythical ruler of Crete and the son of Zeus and Europa. He is best known for commissioning the Labyrinth, a vast maze built by the genius inventor Daedalus to imprison the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature born from a particularly devious trick played on Minos and his wife by Poseidon and Aphrodite.
Later during his rule, when his son Androgeus dies in Athens, Minos defeats Athens in war and demands they send youths as tribute to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, a policy that eventually brought the hero Theseus to Crete. Although portrayed as a stern and often unforgiving king or despot, Minos was clearly also seen as a wise lawgiver, as after his death he became one of the judges of the dead in the Underworld.
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